The village of Southburn near Driffield has been in ‘lockdown’ all weekend as police searched nearby woods for a suspect named by detectives as Anthony Lawrence, the couple’s neighbour.

Detective Chief Inspector Stewart Miller said: "We can confirm that at around 6pm this evening (Sunday 14 January) officers discovered the body of a man believed to be 55 year old Anthony Lawrence, in a vehicle in a rural location in North Yorkshire.'

Shane Gilmer

"Mr Lawrence was wanted in relation to the murder of Shane Gilmer (30) and the attempted murder of his pregnant girlfriend Laura Sugden on Friday 12 January.'

"Since Friday evening we have been carrying out extensive enquiries into Mr Lawrence's whereabouts, which led to the location in North Yorkshire, upon where officers discovered a body.

"We are being supported by North Yorkshire Police as part of our wider investigation."